
Bateleur
The Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is a medium-sized eagle in the family Accipitridae.
Species insights
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Curve from 2,287 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Mpumalanga and beyond
Provinces where Bateleur is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
2,285 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Bateleur
Stays that give back
Across KwaZulu-Natal
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Giraffe
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 240 a night
Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 1,420 a night
Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 900 a night
Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 130 a night
Bateleur recorded here · Savanna biome · Nile crocodile · Hippopotamus
From R 190 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · Hippopotamus · Nile crocodile
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation and 1 other
Price on request
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 13,000 a night
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,280 a night
Birder friendly · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust
From R 1,280 a night
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 2 others
From R 5,400 a night
Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 5,990 a night
Grassland biome · Spotted hyena · Leopard
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,140 a night
Birder friendly · Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,691 a night
Forest biome · Humpback whale · Southern right whale
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Blesbok · Serval
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust and 3 others
From R 1,200 a night
Grassland biome
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 1,950 a night
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Serval
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust
From R 4,100 a night
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome
Gives back to National Sea Rescue Institute
From R 3,995 a night
Birder friendly · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Vervet monkey
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
From R 795 a night
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Birder friendly · Savanna biome
Gives back to Zululand Conservation Trust and 2 others
From R 1,840 a night
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Bateleur
Hosts have recorded the Bateleur at stays in or beside Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Ithala Game Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
IUCN Red List
Endangered
Species
Terathopius ecaudatus
Records
2,285
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Bateleur on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Bateleur in KwaZulu-Natal?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Bateleur at stays in or beside Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ithala Game Reserve and Ndumo Game Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Bateleur in South Africa?
The Bateleur is most recorded in Mpumalanga (57% of records), Limpopo (26% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (9% of records), based on 2,285 iNaturalist observations. 7 places to stay on Spekboom in KwaZulu-Natal have recorded the Bateleur on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Bateleur?
The Bateleur is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Ithala Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Ndumo Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the conservation status of the Bateleur?
The Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
What is the Bateleur?
The Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is a medium-sized eagle in the family Accipitridae. Its closest relatives are the snake eagles. It is the only member of the genus Terathopius and may be the origin of the "Zimbabwe Bird", the national emblem of Zimbabwe. It is endemic to Africa and small parts of Arabia. " Bateleur " is French for "street performer".
























